If you’re looking for a great date night spot, plan a visit to Alamo Drafthouse, a combination movie theater, video rental store and restaurant that boasts 11 theaters plus offers a full food and drink menu that includes a variety of spiked shakes to pair perfectly with an order of loaded fries, a patty melt and more. Shake things up and give the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time) a go! This milkshake includes figs, honey, goat cheese and brandy. We’re also big fans of the Bee’s Kiss shake with aged rum, honey and honeycomb cereal (yes, please!).

Chef Ashley Christensen—James Beard Award-winner and the passionate mind behind a growing empire of restaurants and bars in the City of Oaks—opened Chuck’s (pictured in header) in 2011, offering handmade fries, burgers and shakes in a stylish downtown Raleigh setting. For just four bucks more, you can turn your milkshake into something boozy. The Salty Caramel shake with bourbon is a winner, along with the Mudslide shake with Bailey’s and Kahlua. Want it a little stronger? Make that shot a double. Chuck’s uses Howling Cow Ice Cream from North Carolina State University's Department of Food Science, ensuring the highest quality of creaminess. If you are with your kids, don’t worry, there are non-spiked shakes for them as well that are just as delicious.

Not only can you get burgers and sushi (or a fusion of the two) at Cowfish, but you can also top things off with one of their tasty spiked shakes. Try Cowfish’s Bananas Foster shake with Muddy River Spiced Rum, banana liqueur, ice cream, brown sugar syrup and fresh banana. It’s just like the classic dessert, only blended and spiked to take it to that next level. If you’re looking for a little pick-me-up, try the No Sleep ‘Til Brooklyn shake—with Myer’s Dark Rum, Kahlua, ice cream, malt, coffee concentrate and chocolate covered espresso beans, this shake will be sure to wake you up especially after a full belly of sushi and burgers!

Another great burger spot with a friendly and casual environment is MoJoe’s Burger Joint in Raleigh’s Glenwood South entertainment district. Their award-winning burgers aren’t the only reason to visit—MoJoe’s boozy milkshakes, like the Orange Creamsicle with Stoli Ohranj and whipped cream vodka, will keep you coming back for more. Pair it with one of MoJoe’s burgers and crinkle-cut fries outside on the patio for a fun summer evening.

Bad Daddy’s prepares quintessential American food like burgers and shakes, all taken up a notch! Locals rave about Bad Daddy’s Mudslide shake featuring vodka, Irish créme liqueur and coffee liqueur, all hand-spun with ice cream. Another great option is the Nitro B&B milkshake with Left Hand Nitro Milk Stout, bourbon and caramel.

Author: Kristen Baughman

Kristen Baughman is the founder of Tabletop Media Group, a boutique media agency based in Raleigh and serving clients in the food, beverage and agriculture industries. Her company offers consulting services in the fields of social media, graphic design, illustration, special events, website design and videography. In her free time, you can find her relaxing outside with her dog Cheerwine, writing about food and drink, or at one of the many breweries in the region sipping on a N.C. beer.